• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.207-212
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• 2018

Background: Delaminated rotator cuff tear is known to be a degenerative tear having a negative prognostic effect. This study undertook to compare the anatomical and clinical outcomes of delaminated tears and single layer tears. Methods: Totally, 175 patients with medium to large rotator cuff tears enrolled for the study were divided into 2 groups, based on the tear pathology: single layer tear (group 1) and delaminated tear (group 2). Preoperatively, length of the remnant tendon, muscle atrophy of supraspinatus (SS), and fatty degeneration of SS and infraspinatus (IS) muscles were assessed on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). For follow-up, the repair integrity of the rotator cuff was evaluated by ultrasonography. Clinical outcomes were assessed by evaluating the Constant score (CS) and Korean Shoulder Score (KSS). Results: Retears were detected in 6 cases of group 1 (6.5%) and 11 cases of group 2 (13.3%). Although higher in group 2, the retear rate was significantly not different (p=0.133). Preoperative MRI revealed length of remnant tendon to be $15.46{\pm}3.60mm$ and $14.17{\pm}3.16mm$ (p=0.013), and muscle atrophy of SS (occupation ratio) was $60.54{\pm}13.15$ and $56.55{\pm}12.88$ (p=0.045), in group 1 and group 2, respectively. Fatty degeneration of SS and IS in both groups had no significant differences. Postoperatively, no significant differences were observed for CS and KSS values between the groups. Conclusions: Delaminated rotator cuff tears showed shorter remnant tendon length and higher muscle atrophy that correlate to a negative prognosis. These prognostic effects should be considered during delaminated rotator cuff tear treatment.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.235-241
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• 2017

Purpose: The Palliative Performance Scale (PPS) is a widely used prognostic tool in patients with advanced cancer. This study examines the association between changes in PPS score and survival in patients with advanced cancer. Methods: We identified a cohort of 606 inpatients who died at a Korean university hospital's hospice/palliative care center. For each patient, the PPS score was measured twice according to a standard procedure: 1) upon admission, and 2) three days after admission (D3). "Change on D3" was defined as a difference between initial PPS and PPS on D3. We used a Cox regression modeling approach to explore the association between this score change and survival. Results: The changes in scores were associated with survival. A score change of >30% yielded a hazard ratio for death of 2.66 (95% CI 2.19~3.22), compared to a score change of ${\leq}30%$. PPS of ${\leq}30$ on D3 also independently predicted survival, with a hazard ratio of 1.67 (95% CI 1.38~2.02) compared to PPS of >30. Conclusion: A change of over 30% in PPS appears to predict survival in hospitalized patients with terminal cancer, even after adjustment for confounders. Changes in PPS may be a more sensitive indicator of impending death than a single PPS measured on the day of admission in terminal cancer patients. Further prospective study is needed to examine this important finding in other populations.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.124-128
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• 2014

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess the treatment outcomes and prognosis of Lisfranc joint fracture and dislocation according to the mechanism of injury and treatment method. Materials and Methods: Twenty six patients with Lisfranc fracture-dislocation who had been treated surgically were included in this retrospective study. The patients were divided into two groups according to mechanism of injury: direct crushing injury (16 patients) and indirect rotational or compressive injury (10 patients). The patients were also divided into three groups according to the surgical methods. The parameters used were radiographic evaluation, patients' subjective satisfaction levels, length of hospital stay, and the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) midfoot score. Statistical analysis was performed. Results: The mean postoperative AOFAS midfoot score was 78.7. The mean length of stay was 39.6 days. Statistically significant differences in subjective satisfaction, AOFAS midfoot score, and length of hospital stay were observed between the two groups (p<0.05). However, no significance differences were observed between the three groups who were divided according to the different surgical methods (p>0.05). Conclusion: Mechanism of trauma and the severity of soft-tissue injury were significant prognostic factors affecting the surgical outcomes of Lisfranc joint fracture and dislocation.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.25-33
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• 2022

Purpose: The scoring system for traumatic liver injury (SSTLI) was developed in 2015 to predict mortality in patients with polytraumatic liver injury. This study aimed to validate the SSTLI as a prognostic factor in patients with polytrauma and liver injury through a generalized estimating equation analysis. Methods: The medical records of 521 patients with traumatic liver injury from January 2015 to December 2019 were reviewed. The primary outcome variable was in-hospital mortality. All the risk factors were analyzed using multivariate logistic regression analysis. The SSTLI has five clinical measures (age, Injury Severity Score, serum total bilirubin level, prothrombin time, and creatinine level) chosen based on their predictive power. Each measure is scored as 0-1 (age and Injury Severity Score) or 0-3 (serum total bilirubin level, prothrombin time, and creatinine level). The SSTLI score corresponds to the total points for each item (0-11 points). Results: The areas under the curve of the SSTLI to predict mortality on post-traumatic days 0, 1, 3, and 5 were 0.736, 0.783, 0.830, and 0.824, respectively. A very good to excellent positive correlation was observed between the probability of mortality and the SSTLI score (γ=0.997, P<0.001). A value of 5 points was used as the threshold to distinguish low-risk (<5) from high-risk (≥5) patients. Multivariate analysis using the generalized estimating equation in the logistic regression model indicated that the SSTLI score was an independent predictor of mortality (odds ratio, 1.027; 95% confidence interval, 1.018-1.036; P<0.001). Conclusions: The SSTLI was verified to predict mortality in patients with polytrauma and liver injury. A score of ≥5 on the SSTLI indicated a high-risk of post-traumatic mortality.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.35-40
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• 2004

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate effects of calcific lesion on shockwave therapy of the tennis elbow. Materials and Methods: twenty-four patients with refractory tennis elbow were treated with shock waves. The patients were evaluated by assessment of pain using visual analog scale (VAS) and simple elbow test (SET). Comparision of clinical outcomes for the patients with and without calcification in the extensor tendon and/or cortical irregularity of lateral condyle was tried to determine if this could be a possible prognostic factor in clinical settings. Overall clinical outcomes were evaluated by Roles and Maudsley score at 12 months after ESWT. Results: Significant improvement of symptoms were observed in 20 (83 %) patients at 12 months follow up according to Roles and Maudesley scores. The patients with calcification and/or cortical irregularity improved significantly better, when compared to the patients without calcification and/or cortical irregularity at follow up. Conclusion: This study suggests that shock waves therapy could be considered as effective and noninvasive treatment modality for refractory tennis elbow. Also calcific deposit in extensor tendon and/or cortical irregularity of the lateral epicondyle was seem to be good prognostic factor for shock wave therapy for tennis elbow

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.86-92
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• 2008

Purpose: To evaluate the safety and prognostic factors of intramedullary nailing of distal tibia fractures in terms of function and symptoms of the ankle joint. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 22 distal tibial fractures with intramedullary nailing. The mean duration of follow-up was 43 months. We reviewed medical records to describe each case. We measured radiographic parameters such as fracture configuration, arthritic change of the ankle joint and status of reduction. We also assessed clinical results by AOFAS ankle hind foot scoring system, degree of pain by VAS and range of motion to find out prognostic factors for functional result of the ankle joint. Results: Bone healing was obtained in all cases without any wound complications. Mean AOFAS ankle score was 94. There were 4 cases with mild (VAS<3/10) ankle pain and 2 cases with mild limitation of ankle motion. The comminution of fracture had a significant relationship with delayed angular deformity of ankle joint (p=0.032). There was no other significant parameter affecting ankle joint function except the location of nail-end. Conclusion: Intramedullary nailing in distal tibia fracture is a safe and effective procedure. But further study may need to evaluate the relationship between the position of nail-end and the function of ankle joint.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.38 no.5
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• pp.350-354
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• 2005

Objective : The aim of this study is to assess the immediate and long-term efficacy of percutaneous vertebroplasty for treating painful vertebral osteoporotic fractures. Methods : A retrospective review of 149patients who had undergone 167 vertebroplasty procedures for osteoporotic fractures was performed. Clinical, radiologic, and procedural datas were analyzed as parameters of prognostic significance, including age, sex, bone marrow density score, symptom duration, bone cement filling grade, number of fractured vertebrae, compression grade of vertebrae, leakage of bone cement, volume of bone cement injected and complications. Results : In 158 of the 167 procedures assessed, immediate pain relief was obtained [94.6%]. The extent of collapse of the vertebral body was assessed as a parameter for prognostic significance [p=0.015]. Three months postoperatively, no improvement of the pain was observed in four of the 167 procedures that had undergone the vertebroplasty [2%]. At long-term follow-up, the improvement of pain was not correlated with the compression grade of vertebrae [p=0.420]. Conclusion : The immediate outcome of vertebroplasty are less effective in vertebrae more collapsed.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.196-200
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• 2006

Purpose: To study prognostic factors of unilateral calcaneus fracture underwent surgery. Materials and Methods: We selected appropriate 60 cases of 236 calcaneus fracture cases between March 1985 and March 2004, and analyzed the correlation between sex, age, smoking, injury mechanism, Essex-Lopresti classification of calcaneus fracture, preoperative Bohler angle, postoperative Bohler angle, postoperative 1 year Bohler angle and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), P.S. Kerr's Calcaneal Fracture Score (CFSS). The average age was 41.4 and average follow up period was 74 (12 to 240) months. Results: For follow up period, average VAS is 3.43 and CFSS is 81.23. The sex, age, smoking, injury mechanism, and preoperative, postoperative, postoperative 1 year Bohler angle had no correlation with the prognosis. But the Essex-Lopresti classification of calcaneus fracture, tongue type had better prognosis than joint depression type (VAS : p=0.041, CFSS : p=0.021). Conclusion: In unilateral calcaneus fracture, the sex, age, smoking, injury mechanism, preoperative Bohler angle, postoperative Bohler angle, postoperative 1 year Bohler angle had no correlation with the prognosis of fracture, but in Essex-Lopresti classification, the tongue type fracture had better prognosis than the joint depression type.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.254-260
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• 2021

Continuous deep sedation (CDS) is an extreme form of palliative sedation to relieve refractory symptoms at the end of life. In this study, we shared our experiences with CDS and examined the clinical characteristics associated with survival in patients with terminal cancer who received CDS. We conducted a chart audit of 106 consecutive patients with terminal cancer who received CDS at a single hospice care unit between January 2014 and December 2016. Survival was defined as the first day of admission to the date of death. The associations between clinical characteristics and survival were presented as hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals using a Cox proportional hazard model. The mean age of participants was 65.2 years, and 33.0% (n=35) were women. Diazepam was the most commonly administered drug, and haloperidol or lorazepam were also used if needed. One sedative was enough for a majority of the patients. Stepwise multivariate analysis identified poor functioning, a high Palliative Prognostic Index score, hyperbilirubinemia, high serum ferritin levels, and a low number of sedatives as independent poor prognostic factors. Our experiences and findings are expected to be helpful for shared decision-making and further research on palliative sedation.

• BMB Reports
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• v.57 no.7
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• pp.324-329
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• 2024

The aim of the present study is to provide a rational background for silencing the V-set and transmembrane domain containing 2 like (VSTM2L) in consort with recognising soluble VSTM2L against cholangiocarcinoma. A therapeutic target against cholangiocarcinoma was selected using iterative patient partitioning (IPP) calculation, and it was verified by in vitro and in silico analyses. VSTM2L was selected as a potential therapeutic target against cholangiocarcinoma. Silencing the VSTM2L expression significantly attenuated the viability and survival of cholangiocarcinoma cells through blockade of the intracellular signalling pathway. In silico analysis showed that VSTM2L affected the positive regulation of cell growth in cholangiocarcinoma. Liptak's z value revealed that the expression of VSTM2L worsened the prognosis of cholangiocarcinoma patients. In addition, soluble VSTM2L was significantly detected in the whole blood of cholangiocarcinoma patients compared with that of healthy donors. Our report reveals that VSTM2L might be the potential therapeutic target and a soluble prognostic biomarker against cholangiocarcinoma.